Chapter 9: Who's Prettier

"Dinner's ready, Santino!" Clementine's clear voice rang out nearby. He grunted in reply, wrapped up the prepared herbs, and returned them to his room. At the table, Clementine gave him a wicked little grin. "Santino, how are you planning to make money for that girlfriend of yours?" He made a face, mortified. "It's not like that." "Oh? Then who peeked at her while she was taking a bath and got caught red-handed?" she teased. Seeing crimson creeping up Santino's neck, Clementine teased further. "Tell me, between me and Aliana, who looks better naked?" "You, of course!" he blurted. A blush climbed her cheeks. She smiled. "How could that be? I'm past my prime. She's still a young girl. How could I be prettier than her?" "That's being a mature woman. No girl could compare to you." Santino's gaze held hers, earnest. "All right, I hear you. No need to be so serious." Seeing how serious he looked, and unable to help herself, Clementine let out a soft laugh. "So do you prefer someone mature like me, or younger girls?" She subtly arched her back, as if to emphasize her curves. With her tempting him on purpose, Santino fought the urge to get handsy and said, "You, of course. You're beautiful. I would choose you." Flattery will get you everywhere. Clementine smiled, satisfied.  "You sure know how to sweet-talk. Come on, I'll reward you." "What kind of reward?" "Close your eyes." "Why should I?" "Just close them," she snapped. Hearing the edge in her voice, Santino obeyed and shut his eyes. Clementine, cheeks aflame, planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Santino opened his eyes to find her flushed, her ears bright red as she looked at him. The sight of his stunning sister-in-law, bold enough to steal a kiss, stirred something strange and hot in him. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against him. Clementine struggled at once, but her slight frame stood no chance against Santino, who had trained in his family's Mystic Technique for years. Feeling the yielding warmth of her body against his chest, his hands began to wander, and his body reacted before his mind caught up. "Ah!" A breathy sound slipped from her lips. Santino's hand had already slipped beneath her clothes, clutching at her breasts.  Clementine hadn't been with a man in a long time. The rush of Santino's breath and the heat of him made her knees tremble. Strength left her all at once, and she sagged into his arms, whispering, "Santino... No... I'm your sister-in-law. We can't..." Her words cut through the fog in his head. Thinking of his cousin working in town, Santino snapped back to himself. He glanced at Clementine, still weak in his embrace, and wished he could slap some sense into himself for having such nerve. A moment later, Clementine's rush faded. Her face remained scarlet, and she looked at him with a strange mix of anger and something she couldn't quite name in her eyes. He fumbled for words. "I..." "You don't need to say anything. This must not happen again. I'll pretend today never happened." With that, Clementine turned and hurried back to her room, leaving Santino standing dumbly in the kitchen. Thinking of how he had held Clementine as if possessed, Santino felt a surge of regret. He lifted the hand that had just touched her and took a quick sniff. "God, that smells good." Back in her room, Clementine changed out of her damp underwear. Remembering the way Santino had held her, and how her body had responded, she flushed all over again. Ever since Ricky had gone to work in town, she had not been intimate for a long time. When Santino's arms closed around her, something inside her stirred, and to her own surprise, she wanted more. She wondered whether, if she had not refused Santino, the two of them would already have crossed the line. Heart in turmoil, Clementine went back to the kitchen and took a cucumber. At dawn the next day, Santino rose early and, in the courtyard, started his daily practice of his family's Mystic Technique. Seeing that Clementine had not yet gotten up, he crept to her window and peered inside. She lay in a burgundy silk nightgown, the comforter half on, half off. Black lace at her chest hinted at a deep cleavage, and her slender waist made a graceful curve beneath the silk. She looked devastatingly alluring. At her bedside, a cucumber lay by the nightstand. Santino frowned, puzzled. Clementine stirred in her sleep, and he darted away from the window. Soon after, she came out dressed, moving with sleepy languor.  Catching sight of Santino practicing in the yard, she couldn't help but recall last night. Crimson rose to her cheeks, and she gave him a sultry look. Seeing that she did not seem angry, he felt relieved. She washed up and headed to the kitchen to cook. Over breakfast, Clementine acted as usual, and the weight on his chest finally lifted. After they ate, he told her he was going out, picked up the medicine he had prepared the day before, and headed for Clarissa's home. On the way, he ran into Elise, the widow he had rescued from the river before. Elise was feeling off. Her period was several days late, and she was on her way to the town clinic to get checked out. "Elise, where are you heading?" Santino greeted her warmly. Seeing that it was the man who had saved her, she said, "Oh, Santino. I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to the clinic." He nodded. "All right then. Take care on your way." Elise waved goodbye. Before long, Santino reached Clarissa's gate and knocked.